Hugh stood on the deck of Famous Last Words, breathing heavily from his fight. The Marine blockade was an impressive display, but thanks to their allies they had managed to escape unscathed. Isaac returned to his body, having been a spirit causing havoc on the marine ships. It had turned out that he had the ability to disrupt the psychic waves that transponder snails sent, thus the Marines were unable to organize to stop them.
“We made it.” Isaac exclaimed loudly, arms high in the air.
“I knew we would.” Oriel said, hoping down from the railing that she had spent the entirety of the fighting leaning against.
“You could have helped you know.” Hugh said, breathing heavily from his chest. He had been running about loading cannons and guiding the crew while Isaac was out disrupting the snails.
“But I knew we would be just fine without me.” Oriel said with her sly smile.
“You just wanted to get out of work.” Hugh said with a sigh.
Hugh caught sight of the approaching figure in the sky, a giant hawk man. The captain of the Pantheon Pirates, Hekate, came flying towards the ship. He landed with grace and shifted to his human form. He was bulky in the chest with long curled black hair and the signs of a beard beginning to form.
“Good work out there.” Hekate said, taking Isaac’s hand in a shake. “You all really showed your worth.” He turned and offered a hand to Hugh. “I was very impressed by you.”
“Me?” Hugh said, looking around as if the captain was talking to someone else.
“I saw what you did when that ship boarded you.” Hekate stated. “You pushed them back all on your own, the Marines couldn't even get off their bridge.”
Hugh blushed. “It was nothing.” He said, though inside he was going crazy. Someone acknowledged his efforts? He was noticed outside his crew?
“Though, it seems you were lacking in some way.” Hekate began. “Something wrong with your weapon?”
Isaac filled the space between Hekate and Hugh in an instant. “What are you trying to say about my friend?” He said angrily, glaring blades at Hekate.
“I meant no offense.” Hekate said, waving his hands in surrender. Even with his huge build Hekate had a slightly goofy attitude about everything. “I just noticed that it seemed like he was having issues with his weapon, that's all.”
Isaac was about to speak when Hugh spoke up. “He's right.” They both turned to Hugh. “I noticed it shortly after we came to the grandline. Back in the north blue my saber was good enough to pull my weight, but now it feels like its not enough.”
“Hey don't say that now.” Isaac said, placing two hands on Hugh’s shoulders. “You know what they say, a bad craftsman blames his tools.”
“Was that meant to be encouraging?” Hugh asked, annoyed.
“Of course.” Isaac said, giving a wide smile, unaware of what he was implying.
“Well, if you feel you need an upgrade, perhaps its time to start looking at other options.” Hekate said, filling the dead air. “In these seas you must perform at your best to survive. Those that don't take it seriously are bound to die.”
“Good thing Isaac can die so much, he doesn't take anything seriously.” Hugh said with a sigh.
“I take offense to that.” Isaac said.
“But I think you're right, Hekate.” Hugh said. “I'll have to find something that fits me better, thank you.”
Hekate smiled at Hugh. “Of course, we are partners if only for a short time. I do hope we never have to cross in battle though.”
“I agree.” Isaac said.
Hugh stepped to the side of Isaac to look Hekate in the eye. “How did you stop that Captain? Captain Finch of the Marines right? He's an upcomer who is climbing through the ranks quickly. But I saw you talking to him before he let you pass, what did you tell him?”
Hekate smiled. “Ah, you noticed that. Just a little back up plan to cover our retreat.”
“You gave them Isabel, didn't you?” Hugh said.
Isabel Dunstin, the captain of the Beauty pirates. She had attacked the two crews on the island they had met on. It was a brief battle that left her unconscious and her crew defeated. They left them on the island when they fled.
“That is correct.” Hekate said. “Best they deal with her for us, she might come after us later.”
“Well what now?” Isaac asked.
Hekate held out a log pose that sat on his wrist. “My logpose points towards that way.”
“Ours is different.” Oriel said, approaching the group.
“Seems we go our separate ways from here.” Hekate said. “If we both keep up the pace, we should both reach Sabaody Archipelago about the same time.”
Oriel gave a smile. “I feel like we will arrive about the same time.”
“Well, if you do, we should meet up and catch up.” Hekate said before his arms expanded into wings and he took off into the air. “Good luck to you Undeads, see ya then.”
It was only a few days later when the newspaper showed up. The crew was cheering at the news, but Isaac and Hugh just stared dumbfounded at the ink.
“50 million.” Hugh said, jaw slack and eyes wide.
“82 million, and 50? Why so specific!” Isaac said loudly.
Oriel snatched the paper from Hugh’s grip and began to flip through it. “Aw, I didn't get a raise huh? Guess I gotta step up a bit.”
“What are you looking for Oriel?” Hugh asked, noticing how she was flipping through the pages.
“Checking to see if there is any news on my brother and sister.” Oriel said. “Huh, Umbra’s and Boar’s took down warlords. That's impressive.”
“You have siblings!” Isaac said suddenly. “You haven't said anything about them!”
“Huh look at that, the Orange pirates are making news.” Oriel said. “It's because you never asked.”
“Tell us about them!” Isaac yelled out. Hugh was also interested and was listening intently.
Oriel sighed, then saw something in the paper. “Well, seems one is doing well for herself.” She smiled then closed the paper. “There isn't much to say, they both left for the sea a while before me, we all went out looking for a good time, and we all found it in different ways.”
She wasn't going to share too much which was disappointing to Hugh, but Isaac held on to every word she said. Hugh looked at the logpose on Oriel’s wrist then looked towards it pointed. A small speck appeared on the horizon, the next island.
“Captain, seems we got something to look forward to.” Hugh said, pointing towards the horizon.
Isaac turned sharply, his coat flowing in the wind dramatically. “Bois! Looks like we got another adventure on the horizon!”
The crew cheered loudly, manning their stations swiftly. Isaac put a hand on Hugh’s shoulder and gave him a look.
“We're making progress, the world isn't too far when you think about it.” Isaac said.
“Then what?” Hugh asked, looking forward. He placed a hand to his saber, it had felt so strange since they came to the grandline. “We made our point, didn't we? We broke free of the Regime, were making news, what next?”
Isaac looked away from Hugh, towards the horizon. “We both have dreams beyond that don't we?” He said it with so much sincerity that Hugh hesitated. “We will seek those dreams, yours and mine, everyones.”
Hugh bit at his lip, he had not told Isaac his dream, but Isaac told Hugh about his so many times.
“I'm going to become a brave warrior.” Isaac said with a glint in his eyes. “When I become strong enough, I'm going back to the North blue and I will free them from the Regime!”
Hugh stared at Isaac proudly. “I'll be with you the whole way. Let's do it.”
Isaac smiled at Hugh. Hugh held his gaze till Isaac looked away, then he spotted Oriel. She stared at Hugh with a knowing grin on her face, did she know? Hugh bit at his lip, ripping a coating off it out of anxiety.
His dream didn't matter yet, for now he had to focus on pulling his weight for Isaac. He retreated to his room and held his arm out. The arm turned black and harder than steel. It was a new trick he had learned, he found he could infuse this power into his blade, yet the blade seemed to resist him.
The marines called it Haki, he wondered if his color reading was a part of this Haki, he would have to learn to use it truly at some point. He felt bad, Isaac trained so much to become a great warrior and captain, yet he hadn't shown signs of being able to use Haki like Hugh.
He shouldn't feel bad, he could probably teach Isaac to use Haki. but then came the real reason he felt bad. He didn't want Isaac to learn it, it was the thing that made him feel special. Isaac had it all, looks, a devil fruit, couldn't Hugh have this one thing? He sighed, he should show Isaac atleast how to use this arm power, the color reading could be his right?
His door creaked open. Hugh released the Haki from his arm quickly, spotting Oriel standing in the doorway. Things had changed with her, her silvery hair was styled in her wavey way that draped down her back. Her smokey eyes that used to look so distant now felt like a part of the group. Her face in a heart shape with a slight red to the cheeks. She wore a long teal green dress with matching shorts below it.
Hugh turned his head from her, feeling embarrassed for looking her up and down so much. Then he realized something. She intruded on his room, without knocking!
“Come on, this is my space.” Hugh said with annoyance.
Oriel smiled. “I know, I just wanted to check on you before we landed.” She crossed the room and pulled out the chair from Hugh’s desk. She looked over the sheets of paper that laid across the desk. “I see.” She said knowingly.
“What do you want?” Hugh said, growing extra annoyed.
“When are you going to tell Isaac?” Oriel asked.
Hugh swallowed hard, did she mean the Haki? “What do you mean?”
“Your dream.” Oriel said.
Hugh swallowed. “I.” He began but cut off.
Oriel smiled. “Don't worry, I'm not forcing you to say anything obviously. Just wondering.” Hugh remained silent, so Oriel stood and filled the space. “I know this island will help you out alot.” She crossed the room, then stepped out of the open doorway. “We'll be landing shortly, best get ready. I'm sure it'll be a busy few days.”
She closed the door behind her, leaving Hugh alone to linger on what she had said. She had a strange way of speaking, so certain about things, and often they ended up becoming true. So what did she mean this island would be good for him? She never said something that wasn't about her, so what did it mean that she said something about Hugh? He sat there for a long while till a crewmember came to get him for docking.
